France versus Spain: decision on the wings

Theo Hernández provided his last proof of work at the European Football Championship in a rather unusual position. France’s left-back stood centrally in front of the Portuguese goal and shot the ball into the corner with his left foot. Under normal circumstances such a scene would hardly have occurred. But the penalty shootout in the quarter-finals on Friday after the 0-0 draw over 120 minutes also allowed the 26-year-old Hernández to show off his qualities in the final game. With his try, the AC Milan professional sealed France’s place in the semi-finals. His left-footed shot from the spot was so precise that it hit the angle at exactly the same distance from the post and crossbar and could find its way into the handbook for perfectly taken penalties.

This Tuesday in Munich in the semi-final against Spain, Théo Bernard François Hernández will have to prove himself in a completely different duel. It could be as challenging as facing a goalkeeper in an important penalty shootout. However, other qualities will then be required, because for Hernández it is less about nerve strength and precision than about the speed of his legs and his thoughts.

As a French left-back, he will have to deal with Spain’s highly talented Lamine Yamal, only 16 years old, who prefers to perform his dribbling on the right wing of the attack. The duel between the two is likely to be one of the decisive ones in a comparison of the neighboring countries. The opposite duel between France’s right-back Jules Koundé and the nimble Spanish left-winger Nico Williams is of similar importance. Not to be forgotten are those potentially crucial situations in which France’s offensive player Kylian Mbappé comes over his preferred left side and could meet Jesús Navas, 38, as a representative of the suspended Dani Carvajal.

So far, neither France’s national team as a whole nor their outstanding soloist Mbappé have been able to showcase their qualities on the offensive. In their five appearances at this tournament so far, they have not managed a single goal from play that was not unfortunately scored by an opponent. This is also why the question arises as to whether Mbappé, who seems inhibited, can finally show what he’s made of after breaking his nose against Spain.

It almost sounded like an admission when the 25-year-old commented on criticism of the French’s often quite unattractive style of play: “People might think it’s a joke. But we are in the semi-finals.” The most important thing is to win, said Mbappé before the game against the country in which he will play for Real Madrid after the European Championship.

Just as the French have not yet scored their own goal offensively, they have not yet conceded a goal defensively at this European Championship. Such stability is “the be-all and end-all at this level,” says their pragmatic coach Didier Deschamps. The full-backs Koundé and Hernández played a major role in the fact that goalkeeper Mike Maignan could only be overcome with a penalty. France’s recent round of 16 match against Belgium was an example of this. Koundé was then named “Player of the match”. Hernández could also have been chosen. Similar to Koundé, he also earned a badge of hard work because he set the tone on offense and defense. What was particularly memorable was his long sprint to spectacularly save the 0-0 with a tackle against Yannick Carrasco at the last moment. Shortly afterwards, he initiated the winning goal with his dribble from the left into the middle.

And now against Spain? Hernández will know that it is better not to give Yamal as much time and space as Germany defender David Raum did in the quarter-finals before Yamal’s assist to make it 0-1. At least he can now count on the support of Adrien Rabiot again. The midfielder is expected back in the starting line-up after serving a yellow card suspension against Portugal. In addition to Carvajal, the Spaniards are also missing Robin Le Normand, who is also suspended. The right central defender received his second yellow card against Germany. Mbappé will also want to take advantage of this in his advances on his preferred side.

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